ABOUT US
At G2V, we envision a future where health care uses genomics to improve human health equitably.
We work towards this vision in the following ways:
- We conduct biomedical research to determine the role of genetic and genomic technologies in improving the care and health outcomes of Veterans and other patients.
- Our work in research, education, and engagement improves practice and policy and makes genomics more accessible for patients and practitioners.
- We cultivate and maintain a reputation as experts in the field of genetic and genomic medicine implementation among stakeholders at local, national, and international levels.
- We work towards promoting equity and patient and public trust in genetic research.
- We train the next generation of genomic medicine researchers.
Based at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System but spanning the larger ecosystem of Harvard Medical School, Mass General Brigham, Ariadne Labs, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, our work bridges the expertise of Genomes2People and the mission of bringing 21st century medical care to Veterans.
THE G2V TEAM
Director: Jason Vassy, MD, MPH, MS
Jason Vassy, MD, MPH, MS, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, a clinician-investigator at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a founding member of Precision Population Health at Ariadne Labs. He earned his MD degree from Washington University School of Medicine before completing an internal medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania and a Harvard General Internal Medicine Research Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is a practicing primary care internist and researcher in the implementation and evaluation of genomic medicine interventions.
Ashley Antwi, MPH, CHES
Charles Brunette, PhD
Morgan Danowski, MS, CGC
Charlene Preys MS, GC
Jade Harris
Haley Leishman, MS, CGC
Julian Martin
Preetika Kulkarni
Fabian Lako, MSc, LLM
Jason Vassy, MD, MPH, MS
Katharine MacIsaac, MPH
Thomas Yi, MS
Current G2V Projects
The Prostate cancer, Genetic Risk, & Equitable Screening Study (ProGRESS)
Funding: VA Office of Research and Development (I01 CX002635)
Project Manager: Charles Brunette, PhD
ProGRESS is a national pragmatic randomized controlled trial of precision prostate cancer screening. 5,000 Veterans are enrolled into a trial of usual care with shared decision-making versus precision screening recommendations based on monogenic genetic variants, a polygenic risk score, and family history.
ProGRESS on ClinicalTrials.gov
The GenoVA Study: Pragmatic Randomized Trial of Polygenic Risk Scoring for Common Diseases in Primary Care
Funding: NIH, National Human Genome Research Institute (R35 HG010706)
Project Manager: Katherine MacIsaac, MPH
The GenoVA Study is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial of polygenic risk scoring for 6 common diseases: coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes mellitus, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. Participants and their primary care providers receive their polygenic risk score results at baseline or after 24 months and are followed for the primary clinical outcome of time-to-diagnosis of any of the target diseases.
For more detailed information about the GenoVA Study, including study design and outcome measures, visit our clinical trial page:
ScreenShare Study: Building a shared decision making implementation strategy for the emerging paradigm of precision cancer screening
Funding: VA Office of Research and Development (I01 HX003627)
Project Manager: Ashley Antwi, MPH, CHES
The ScreenShare Study is a comprehensive mixed-methods research project focused on enhancing shared decision-making in precision prostate cancer screening for Veterans. It encompasses interviews with Veterans and PACT clinicians, alongside a nationwide clinician survey, to gather valuable insights. These insights inform the development of tailored tools through intervention mapping, specifically addressing Veterans’ decisional needs and facilitating the integration of shared decision-making into clinical practice. By collaborating with key VA operational partners, the project ensures that these resources meet VA Healthcare System requirements, ultimately aiming to improve health outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction, and optimize clinical workflows within the VA healthcare landscape.
Pharmacogenomic Testing for Veterans (PHASER) Program
Funding: Department of Veterans Affairs
Project Manager: Ashley Antwi, MPH, CHES
VA Boston was one of the first VA sites across the country to participate in the PHASER program, a clinical implementation program and precision health initiative that provides preemptive pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing to VA patients.
To learn more about the PHASER program, visit our program page:
Million Veteran Program – Return of Actionable Results (MVP-ROAR) Study
Funding: VA Office of Research and Development (MVP030)
Project Manager: Morgan Danowski, MS, CGC
The Million Veteran Program – Return of Actionable Results (MVP-ROAR) Study is a randomized controlled trial of immediate vs. delayed (after 6 months) return of medically actionable, clinically confirmed genetic testing results. The purpose of the study is to develop a process to return results to living MVP participants nationwide and to determine the impact of doing so on medical management and outcomes and Veteran quality of life.
For more detailed information about the MVP-ROAR Study, including study design and outcome measures, visit our clinical trial page:
MVP-ROAR on ClinicalTrials.gov
VA All of Us Research Program 
Funding: National Institutes of Health
Project Manager: Fabian Lako, MSc, LLM
VA is a participating organization in the All of Us Research Program, which is enrolling people across the U.S. to one of the most diverse health databases in history.
For more detailed information about the VA All of Us Research Program, please visit our program page:
REFLECTION: Real World Evidence for Learnings in Cancer Detection Study
The REFLECTION Study is a research project studying a blood-based, multi-cancer early detection test called Galleri, which may help detect cancer before the onset of symptoms. Galleri may be used in tandem with standard-of-care cancer screening tools.
The VA Genomics-enabled Learning Health System (gLHS): Implementing genomic medicine across diverse veteran communities
Funding: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Project Manager: Morgan Danowski, MS, CGC
The VA Genomics Enabled Learning Health System is part of the gLHS network of clinical sites. Together the 6 clinical sites will design and conduct 2-4 implementation protocols that promote the uptake of genomic medicine interventions. The network aims to identify and advance approaches for integrating genomic information into existing learning health systems.
Completed G2V Projects
Integrating Pharmacogenetics in Clinical Care (I-PICC) Study
Funding: VA Office of Research and Development (IK2-CX001262)
The I-PICC Study was a pragmatic randomized controlled trial of pharmacogenetic testing for statin myopathy risk in primary care. Statin-naïve patients at higher risk for cardiovascular disease were randomly assigned at the point-of-care to have their primary care providers receive their SLCO1B1 genotype results at baseline or at the end of the study. Patients were followed for 12 months for outcomes including cholesterol levels, statin-associated muscle symptoms, and concordance with cardiovascular disease and pharmacogenetic prescribing guidelines.
For more detailed information about the I-PICC Project, including study design and outcome measures, visit our clinical trial page:
Join us!
The G2V Research Trainee Program
Genomes2Veterans (G2V) is a translational genomics research program focused on the implementation of genomics innovations into the routine practice of medicine, including pharmacogenomic testing, polygenic risk scores, and the return of genetic results to research participants in a national biobank.
Opportunities exist for undergraduate students, graduate students, medical students, pharmacy students, postdoctoral fellows, and recent graduates to contribute to and expand high-profile clinical research studies and implementation projects that are re-shaping the way genomics is being integrated into clinical care at the VA.
Trainees work with Dr. Jason Vassy and the entire G2V Team to observe clinical research activities and implementation projects, as well as conduct independent projects that build skills and advance their career goals.
If you are interested in pursuing a research opportunity with us, please complete our G2V Trainee Interest Form.
For Genomes2Veterans scientific papers and media coverage, visit the link below.
